Preview — Mirage
by Somaiya Daud

Mirage

“A refreshing and unique coming-of-age story...a beautiful and necessary meditation on finding strength in one’s culture.” —Entertainment Weekly, Top Pick of the Month

“A YA marvel that will shock breath into your lungs. If you loved The Wrath and the Dawn and Children of Blood and Bone, Mirage will captivate you.” —The Christian Science Monitor“This debut fantasy has what

“A refreshing and unique coming-of-age story...a beautiful and necessary meditation on finding strength in one’s culture.” —Entertainment Weekly, Top Pick of the Month

“A YA marvel that will shock breath into your lungs. If you loved The Wrath and the Dawn and Children of Blood and Bone, Mirage will captivate you.” —The Christian Science Monitor“This debut fantasy has what it takes to be the next big thing in sci-fi/fantasy.” —SLJ, starred review“Immersive, captivating.” —ALA Booklist, starred review

In a world dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated home.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.

OliviaThere is no need to remove the Fairyloot edition especially since that's the one I read. If you wish to change editions simply click "other editions"…moreThere is no need to remove the Fairyloot edition especially since that's the one I read. If you wish to change editions simply click "other editions" then "switch to this edition" once you see the one you want. Hope I helped! :)(less)

Community Reviews

“you are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful. You lived before them and you shall live after them. You can’t let them determine your path.”

3 1/2 stars. Now THIS is the feminist YA fantasy of 2018, not Heart of Thorns. It's imperfect, yes, falling into a number of debut author traps, but it's a slow-burning, diverse fantasy with a rich, Moroccan-inspired setting.

Somewhat surprisingly, Mirage is a character-driven fantasy. Most YA fantasy I read is driven by mindless acti

“you are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful. You lived before them and you shall live after them. You can’t let them determine your path.”

3 1/2 stars. Now THIS is the feminist YA fantasy of 2018, not Heart of Thorns. It's imperfect, yes, falling into a number of debut author traps, but it's a slow-burning, diverse fantasy with a rich, Moroccan-inspired setting.

Somewhat surprisingly, Mirage is a character-driven fantasy. Most YA fantasy I read is driven by mindless action and romance, but Daud crafts fascinating relationship dynamics between her female characters. Amani's romance with Idris was unexciting to me, but that's okay because it was totally eclipsed by the far more interesting growing relationship between Amani and Maram (I was kinda hoping the romance would be between them, to be honest).

In this world - a vaguely sci-fi setting that reads like a fantasy (not unlike Meyer's Lunar Chronicles) - Amani is kidnapped from her poor village on the moon, Cadiz, and taken to the royal palace, the Ziyaana, on the planet of Andala. There she finds she is the body double of the cruel princess Maram and must pose as the princess and learn to imitate her at societal events.

The book looks at themes of colonialism and the erasure of native cultures. Andala has been invaded and occupied by the Vathek Empire-- which cannot coincidentally share the name of Beckford's orientalist Vathek. Away from the prying eyes of the Vathek elite, Amani and Idris celebrate Kushaila poetry and bond over their stories of the occupation.

But what I enjoyed most was how Daud develops Maram into such a complex and interesting character. I love "villains" who are more than simply bad. I dislike so much that she does but I care about her, too. Also interesting is Amani's navigation through the political and social world she finds herself in, and how easily she soon finds it to become Maram, even seduced by the power she holds.

As I said, it's not perfect. The sci-fi elements are perfunctory in a novel that otherwise seems to be a straight-up fantasy book. The addition of droids adds nothing of interest, which is disappointing. There is also the standard "character made to recite world history for no good reason" that happens so often in YA fantasy. There has to be a better way to integrate this info.

It's a slower book than the average YA fantasy, focusing on conversations and exploring relationships. Amani must juggle allies and decide who, if anyone, she can trust. And, you know, it was actually really refreshing-- to have both a unique setting and a tale that focuses on character interactions and court politics. I'll be reading the sequel.

I love this book for many reasons. Least of which is that lately I’ve been full of the restless, dissatisfied energy that seemed to move into my heart after finishing a book, I’ve been chasing that particular high you only get from certain rare stories—the ones that make you want to press the book against your chest and try to soak up the gorgeous literature via osmosis, the ones that resonate with you on a strange personal level, liI am, as the poets say, a complete fucking mess over this book.

I love this book for many reasons. Least of which is that lately I’ve been full of the restless, dissatisfied energy that seemed to move into my heart after finishing a book, I’ve been chasing that particular high you only get from certain rare stories—the ones that make you want to press the book against your chest and try to soak up the gorgeous literature via osmosis, the ones that resonate with you on a strange personal level, like a reminder of a half-remembered memory that was once very dear to you but has somehow been forgotten.

And chief of which is the ragged awe of reading something so achingly familiar, a story that feels like home, and the most gentle and glowy emotion in your chest at the knowledge that your culture has found its way into the YA fare and has been brought to an audience who likely would not have known about it otherwise.

So, what is this book about?

Mirage is set in a Moroccan proxy world called Cadiz, a moon of the planet Andala which has been conquered by the Vath, a ruthless empire from another planet intent on erasing the customs and traditions of the Cadiz people. During her community’s traditional coming of age ceremony, 18-year-old Amani is violently stolen from her family in an impoverished village on Cadiz, and held captive in the imperial palace, Ziyaana, where she is shocked to find that she bears a striking resemblance to the half-Vathek princess, Maram vak Mathis, who is known to be as cruel and unforgiven as her Vathek father but with the face of her Kushaila mother. In response to increased rebel attacks, Amani is forced to train to become the princess’s body double.

“I had lost a battle I’d never been equipped to fight. I’d been stripped of all things that were meant to be mine, that Dihya had blessed me with, and now – how could I keep myself, preserve myself, if I had none of myself left?If all I had was Maram?”

Mirage is drawn from recent Moroccan history, especially a historical episode known as The Years of Lead or the “black years”– the period in Morocco between the 1960s and 1980s under the reign of Hassan II. A very dark era folded in the history of my country that was notable for violent crackdowns against democracy activism and dissent that ranged from poetic expression to insisting on the recognition of Morocco’s many indigenous groups. It was a time of fear, a state of utter terror when officials acting on behalf of the monarchy have tortured, kidnapped, arrested and murdered without a trace thousands of victims. (History fact: In 2006, current King Mohammed VI expressed regret for the human rights abuses that had occurred during his father’s rule in the Years of Lead, and two years before that, an official government human rights committee (the Equity and Reconciliation Commission) has been set to investigate the impact of the human rights abuses committed by the government and administer compensations for victims of unfair policies. While Morocco is still not a democracy by the western definition of the word and human rights abuses occur pretty frequently, a lot of reforms have been set in place since then. Still, this book was a painful reminder of the suffering that my country has endured not that long ago.)

Mirage also addresses the enduring wounds of colonialism, appropriation, injustice, suppression and erasure. And Amani’s experiences of prejudice and structural inequalities draw vivid parallels with our world, without allowing a didactic message to dominate.

But what is most fascinating about this book is the way the author taps into a rich imaginative lineage as she weaves Northwest African mythology into a bespoke world that resonates with our own. Andalan is truly a treat of a fantasy world, fully-formed and entirely thought-out, with a thematically rich mythology and a gorgeous imagery. Many elements of the story are modeled on concepts specific to the Amazigh– an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa that predates the Arabs of Morocco but that’s been historically left out of the political process and severely marginalized, like the warrior queen Dihya (also known as Kahena) who still serves as a symbol of empowerment and feminism and anti-colonialism in our indigenous communities.

With a propulsive pacing and a compelling narrative, the story felt like a gaping chasm of possibilities, fearful and breathless and awed. There was a sense of magic, of possibility and of anxious danger as Amani enters a world that is as alluring as it is treacherous, as she learns to navigate the complexities of court and the machinations of politics, as her days as a prisoner in the imperial palace become increasingly bleak and she finds solace in poetry. Throughout her journey, Amani slowly develops the resilience needed to fight back. I love how she starts out as someone who is furious at the injustices being committed against her indigenous community but feels as if she is uncapable of doing anything about it, that she is too small for the skin she wanted to carry. But by the end of the novel, she becomes a person who can be a rebel, a person who not only has found the strengh to endure – but to act.

“The crown of Dhiya has been stripped from me, my face changed, my body broken. But I was not a slave and I was not a spare. I was my mother’s daughter, and I would survive and endure. I would find my way home.”

I also loved how the rest of the characters have been humanized by giving them the room to be fully fleshed and multidimensional instead of diminishing the full spectrum of their personality and presence. The reluctant friendship that emerges between Amani and Maram, the princess, positions itself structurally as the heart of the book, as Amani finds out that Maram is a forgery. The half-Vathek, half-Kushaila princess has lived her life being too foreign for her conquered people, too foreign for her conquering empire, never enough for both. Her cruelty is merely her last attempt at hardening her heart into armor and chiseling herself into a harder but ultimately, a less truer version of herself.

The romance between Amani and Maram’s fiancé, Idris, is definitely trope-based and kind of insta-lovey which would have otherwise made the cynic I am at heart cringe inwardly. But honestly? I loved how it wasn’t the crux of the book. Amani, as a strong female character with a strong, compelling narrative is a teen navigating love, intimacy, and affection without being denied depth of character and I loved that.

And all of it makes it so exciting to remember that this is just the first book of a duology. We’ll get to see the author develop her mythological system and work out the first-book kinks in the next installment. There’s definitely a lot to look forward to!

“Happiness is rebellion.”

✨ Thank you so much to Mel for sending me this arc in particular and for being her lovely, generous self in general 💛

Somaiya Daud didn’t have to come for us like this..... she’s like “here take this amazing multidimensional narrative about colonization and agency and internalized hatred for one’s culture, driven by a fantastic lady lead and her complex relationship with a fantastic lady antivillain, featuring fantastic setting descriptions and a really good romance, and also I write like a fucking Pulitzer Prize winner and this is my debut” and im just. out here eating a bag of chips

I know I just gave you a reSomaiya Daud didn’t have to come for us like this..... she’s like “here take this amazing multidimensional narrative about colonization and agency and internalized hatred for one’s culture, driven by a fantastic lady lead and her complex relationship with a fantastic lady antivillain, featuring fantastic setting descriptions and a really good romance, and also I write like a fucking Pulitzer Prize winner and this is my debut” and im just. out here eating a bag of chips

I know I just gave you a really long recommendation for this book, but seriously - let’s talk about this book.

I absolutely totally am in love with the meta-narrative here about colonization. Amani lives on a planet that has been conquered by the white Vathek, who have attempted to homogenize her homeland into something resembling their world - and when they can’t, brutally repressed those they can’t change. And here is where Mirage does something quite brilliant. Instead of simply focusing on Amani’s narrative, her kidnapping, and villainizing those around her, this book chooses to focus on how the Vath rule has fucked over everyone around her.

Imperial prince Idris has grown up without his language, Kushaila, being taught to forget and to push himself into a narrative he will never be accepted within. And Imperial princess Maram, both Vathek and Kushaila, has attempted to mold herself into exactly what her cruel father wants in an attempt to gain his acceptance. For this, she is hated by her own people, trapped in a narrative that is not her own.

And meanwhile, Amani is trapped in a situation where she is forced to play-act and do whatever she is told. But she never stops fighting to win back her own agency in a world that is desperate for her to have none.

The relationship between Amani and Maram is one of the best dynamics of the book. I feel like we’re often very low on amazing female antiheroines and especially antivillains [basically, a villain who is redeemed / doesn’t always take up that role within the narrative] and it was so great to see that dynamic here.

And Amani has so much agency. Seriously, in a book that is about Amani’s loss of agency, it really amazed me how much space she is allowed to take up within the narrative. I love that she rebels. I love that she doesn’t lie down for Maram, even when she realizes she really does pity her. I love that she is aware of her feelings for Idris and yet careful and realistic about how she deals with them. She is such a sensible, well-written, well-developed lead, and I love her.

Listen, in general, this book is one of the most feminist things I have ever read. It’s essentially about an indigenous girl learning to rebel against oppression, and about her friendship with a fabulous biracial lady antivillain. I was in heaven.

And this might go without saying, but the writing and world… is gorgeous. It’s just so sensuous, and the setting is amazing, and I was so in the book. Lovely.

There are other elements within the book, like the family dynamic and the romance, that intrigued me as well, and I’m excited to see where they go in the future. And while the romance almost felt like it should have annoyed me, Amani is such a fantastic lead and Idris is so sympathetic that I wasn’t at all bothered.

This would be great for fans of sensuous, gorgeous, and theme-focused fantasy-adjacent space-opera. I have a good feeling this is going to be one of the best YA scifi duologies of our current time and I am so here for it.

“On a small moon orbiting a large planet, in a small farmhouse in a small village, there was a box, and in this box was a feather.”

Mirage is a magical, wonderful, important, gift to the YA SFF world. From characters I fell in love with, to the messages about the importance of your culture and your family, to the most lyrical and beautiful writing. I loved this story withARC provided by Flatiron in exchange for an honest review.

“On a small moon orbiting a large planet, in a small farmhouse in a small village, there was a box, and in this box was a feather.”

Mirage is a magical, wonderful, important, gift to the YA SFF world. From characters I fell in love with, to the messages about the importance of your culture and your family, to the most lyrical and beautiful writing. I loved this story with my whole heart, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to fall in love with it.

This story is an ownvoices Moroccan inspired story about a young girl named Amani, who has known nothing but oppression on the moon that she and her family live on. She and her family are farmers, trying to live the best life possible, even with the constant heartbreak surrounding them.

“You learned a different sort of fear when you grew up in a village like mine. Fear of hunger. Fear of Imperial droids. Fear of the low hum that came with Imperial probes. But that fear taught you endurance—you could let its unwavering presence wear you down, or you could learn to stand up despite it.”

In this galaxy, the Vathek rule, and are slowly trying to erase other cultures, religions, and beliefs around them. While also trying to do any and everything to ensure there is no uprising or rebellion. But the rebels have been planning, and calculating, and waiting, and will do anything to make sure that the Vath do not continue to oppress and rise.

Amani has finally turned eighteen, which means she gets to finally celebrate her coming of age with others in her village. She has been looking forward to this day, and the blessing that will be bestowed upon her, for her entire life. And Amani is able to get her daan, a tattoo that means everything to her; her family, her faith, her inheritance. But the celebration gets crashed and quickly comes to a terrible end.

“I’d dreamed forever of leaving Cadiz, of visiting other star systems in our galaxy. But I’d never thought I would be taken against my will. I was dragged through the building, pulled onto a ship, silent and numb, then finally deposited in a holding cell.”

Amani gets kidnapped by imperial droids and flown to the royal empire. Upon arrival, she soon realized the reason she was taken; she is nearly identical to the Princess Maram, the heir to the throne, a girl who is cruel, and is wicked, and is disliked by both sides of her people, because she is half of the other. Maram’s father conquered Andala, and violated galactic law, so the only way he could keep the planet was to marry and have a child, so Maram was born. And Maram has a half-sister that very much does not think that Maram should rule, and she might be willing to do anything to make sure of it.

Maram is in fear for her life, so she rationalizes abducting Amani and forcing her to make her public appearances, while promising her death if she fails to be convincing. Amani is thrown into a world that she has never known, while being constantly reminded of the family, culture, and traditions she had to leave behind.

Maram’s father also murdered most of the families that lead the resistance against him conquering their planet, even though they did surrender. A boy named Idris, was spared from the Purge, as a reminder what would happen if people tried to oppose this new ruler. But he was also promised to be married to Maram once she comes of age, so she will forever be tied to the planet her father bloodily conquered.

“He a prince and I a slave in all but name. There was no happy ending to this story, no way for the two of us to make one.”

And Amani is forced to play so many roles, while she convincingly has to pretend to be a princess whose father has taken so much from so many. And Amani is therefore thrown into a world of politics, betrayals, secrets, and even love.

This book beautifully illustrates that we are not the actions of our parents and the terrible things that humans are capable of doing. We are only our actions, and we are only held accountable for our actions, and for the actions we choose to repent for.

“We are not responsible for what cruel masters enact in our name.”

This book perfectly talks about family, culture, religion, traditions, and the things we are willing to do for them and in the name of them. Honor and believing in something are one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, forces in any galaxy. And standing up for your convictions is sometimes the only thing we have in this world. Never, ever, stop believing.

“When Dihya wanted to give you a sign He slipped the feather into your hand. When He wanted to command you to a calling, to take action, He sent the bird itself.”

The book amazingly showcases how important friendships can be, and how loneliness can take many forms. Everyone deals with depression, grief, and trauma differently. And sometimes an unexpected friendship can be the thing that makes you feel even a little bit better. Kindness truly is sometimes the best thing that we can give to another living soul.

Overall, Somaiya Daud’s debut SFF novel blew me away. I loved this with my entire heart and soul. This book is beautiful, this book is powerful, and this book is completely captivating. I never wanted to put this down, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Don’t sleep on this book, friends. Preorder this before it’s August 28th release!

I have been waiting for this book and I didn't even know it. Smart, fast-paced, sexy, heartbreaking, with spectacular worldbuilding. The cultural details, from names to clothes to physical descriptions to poetry are so painstakingly and carefully done. It's a sci-fi that feels like a fantasy, which tbh is my favorite genre combo. You will be hearing me yell about this book all year. Add it to your TBRs, try to get your hands on an ARC. It is absolutely fantastic.

A book, for me, can have a thousand tropes, but as long as it has this one specific element, it can be a thousand times glorious.

Intensity.

I don’t want to read a dull story. I don’t want to not feel anything. I want to be moved to ugly tears and be made so angry I can’t move my limbs and fumble with my words.

This was one intense book and, unsurprisingly, character-driven. Intensity is not brought to life by objects; it is created by people who feel, see, hear, touch and taste.

Who have personalA book, for me, can have a thousand tropes, but as long as it has this one specific element, it can be a thousand times glorious.

Intensity.

I don’t want to read a dull story. I don’t want to not feel anything. I want to be moved to ugly tears and be made so angry I can’t move my limbs and fumble with my words.

This was one intense book and, unsurprisingly, character-driven. Intensity is not brought to life by objects; it is created by people who feel, see, hear, touch and taste.

Who have personalities. Who shake things up. Who create or solve conflict. Who have a purpose and a goal. Who dream and fail, and rise and fall and, above everything, who attempt to conquer over their fears, their enemies, their inside voices telling them they are nothing and can achieve even less.

Such voices reside inside Amani. After all, she is just a village girl who was never meant for greatness. But change is knocking at her door in the form of a cruel princess who both needs and despises Amani and, to survive, she must learn to harness the power within herself.

You know what else I need in a novel? I need characters who are not as they appear. I like being surprised to the point of clutching my chest and swallowing mosquitoes. Not a pretty picture, I admit, but I don’t need pretty. I want to feel what I don’t want to feel and react in ways that I don’t every hour of the day.

We have that here. There is a heroine and an anti-heroine, each undergoing a character-development and putting our hearts and minds to the test. They challenge our prejudices and dare us to see beyond what is shown to us. Not everything is as it seems. And sometimes a strong woman is misunderstood for a straight out villain.

This is everything I wanted and more. A bit on the slow side, but definitely a tale that makes me wants to trade one of my all-time favourite books for the sequel. Anyone wants a copy of Captive Prince in exchange for book two? I’m mainly addressing the author’s computer.

Science fiction can be hit and miss for me, so I don’t request ARCs from the genre terribly often, but when I heard the synopsis on this one—and the fact that it has own-voice Moroccan rep, which I’d never seen in a story before—I knew it was one I couldn’t afford to miss out on, and for good reason. I don’t say this lightly in my advance reviews, but honestly, I believe Mirage is going to be one of the best, and most important, releases of 2018.

The crown of Dihya had been stripped from me, my

Science fiction can be hit and miss for me, so I don’t request ARCs from the genre terribly often, but when I heard the synopsis on this one—and the fact that it has own-voice Moroccan rep, which I’d never seen in a story before—I knew it was one I couldn’t afford to miss out on, and for good reason. I don’t say this lightly in my advance reviews, but honestly, I believe Mirage is going to be one of the best, and most important, releases of 2018.

The crown of Dihya had been stripped from me, my face changed, my body broken. But I was not a slave and I was not a spare. I was my mother’s daughter, and I would survive and endure. I would find my way back home.

First, let’s just go ahead and get this out of the way: the writing in this book is fantastic. Especially with this being Somaiya Daud’s first novel, it is evident from page one that the woman was born to weave stories. I read this in a scheduled buddy read where we split it into sections, and at the end of every single day’s reading, it was a literal struggle to keep myself from continuing because I couldn’t get enough of this world, these characters, and the suspense of the unfolding plot.

Endurance was strength, to be sure, but even a rock wore away to nothing if asked to endure enough rain.

It’s not just a beautiful story, but a haunting one, as Amani’s people have been steadily erased by their Vathek conquerors; more and more of their cultural expressions are becoming outlawed, and nearly all of their political figures have been de-throned to make place for the Vathek king and his family. In YA releases, I think we frequently see these “brutal” kings that don’t actually do much of anything brutal, but that’s not the case—Somaiya Daud goes there, and the Vathek people are absolutely awful, murdering innocent citizens left and right just to prove a point.

The blood never dies. The blood never forgets.

Maram, the half-Vathek princess who Amani is taken to become a body double for, is no exception, but she’s also young and mother-less, with a father who resents her very existence. I love the portrayal of her character as this ambiguous villain, who we’re never quite certain what to make of—is she as vicious as she seems, or is she misguided and looking for her father’s approval? It doesn’t excuse her actions, but watching her develop into this incredible, complex character was a brilliant experience.

And this, poetry like this, was all we had to preserve our stories, our music, our history.

There’s also a surprising amount of love shining through the bleakness of Amani’s circumstances—not only for the man she is pretending to be betrothed to, Maram’s fiancé, Idris—but also for the forbidden poems and stories she clutches in her heart to remember not only the ways of her people, but also the beliefs of her religion. The representation of her faith was beautiful and empowering, and I never tired of the stories-within-a-story of her deity, Dihya, and the emboldened women of the past that Amani looks up to.

“You are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful. You lived before them and you shall live after them.”

Altogether, Mirage is such a gorgeous tale of faith, family, love, loss, betrayal, and endurance. Amani and her loved ones are so inspirational and strong, and each of the primary players in this game are complex and evocative in their own ways. I was hooked from cover to cover, and know that it’s going to be a long, cold wait until the sequel, because I positively must know what happens next. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any fans of YA sci-fi and/or fantasy—and would like to add that the science fiction elements are soft enough that even readers who don’t reach for sci-fi would be able to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Content warnings for cultural erasure, physical abuse, imprisonment

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Flatiron for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I actually enjoyed this book, at first I wasn't sure and then it reeled me in closer to the end of the book! I couldn't give up on a book set in space and stuff! =)

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This was in my Sept Owlcrate box. I hope I love it as much as my friends have given it 5 stars! I must admit, I love the originalOkay, I got the same book in my Sept Fairyloot Box! This is happening too much, but I loved the book from this box and all the stuff in it. I will leave a link below the picture!

I actually enjoyed this book, at first I wasn't sure and then it reeled me in closer to the end of the book! I couldn't give up on a book set in space and stuff! =)

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This was in my Sept Owlcrate box. I hope I love it as much as my friends have given it 5 stars! I must admit, I love the original copy better then the Owlcrate edition because I love purple =) I will try to add the link below the pic so you can see the goods.

Ok pretty sure this is going to be another one of my top reads of this year. It felt like a fantasy story with sci-fi elements mixed in and was just so wonderfully original. I was initially going to mention that I thought this story had echoes of Star Wars, buuuut that probably just reflects how shallow my actual sci-fi knowledge is instead of anything about the story.

ANYWAYS this whole story is SO WELL DONE. The basic idea is that Amani is kidnapped by imperial droRelease date: August 28, 2018

Ok pretty sure this is going to be another one of my top reads of this year. It felt like a fantasy story with sci-fi elements mixed in and was just so wonderfully original. I was initially going to mention that I thought this story had echoes of Star Wars, buuuut that probably just reflects how shallow my actual sci-fi knowledge is instead of anything about the story.

ANYWAYS this whole story is SO WELL DONE. The basic idea is that Amani is kidnapped by imperial droids because she looks exactly like the cruel princess. She's taken off her home planet and forced to start a new life as a stand-in who will impersonate the princess at public events and wherever there might be trouble. Amani grows close to "her" fiance, who initially doesn't realize that she's not the princess. After the two travel to a distant moon and encounter more of the rebellion, Amani decides to use her position aaaand gains a lot more agency...

The writing was absolutely wonderful, the story flowed perfectly, the settings were really vivid & creative, the romance totally worked, and the characters were all well developed & realistic. I loved how complex the princess was. Even characters who weren't in a ton of the story, like Aziz & Husnain, were really strong!

And I was just so thrilled to see a well-rounded story that had a full plot arc on its own, yet still set up the sequels perfectly. You can totally get into this one without worrying about having to wait for a sequel for the plot to deliver!

The back of the book mentions the author's interest in Arabic poetry and I think that passion really came through in the story. Every element of this gorgeous, creative world worked together perfectly to create a truly original story that I think fans of SO many genres will enjoy!!

🌟 I don’t usually put synopsis but I felt it was important to understand this review and because I went into the story without even knowing what is it about!

🌟 I know this book will get a lot of good reviews and ratings which is cool and makes me happy for the author. The problem is that this is a debut novel and it felt like one!

🌟 I am not a big Sci-fi reader, I read a lot of fantasy and this was like a simpler version of Red rising (Where one character is basically trying to be another). I know they are quite different but I felt that most of the plot was easily predictable. And while I like the simplicity of this book, it was a bit lacking in the writing which also affected the characters.

🌟 There were a few beginner mistakes that should have been remedied by the editor. There was a lot of telling rather than showing. Since we are talking about Red rising which was much more complicated -and that may not have necessarily been a good thing- but character wise, it was exceedingly good! There was a slow build up and change of the MC from point A to Z. That happened in many long pages filled with conversations and hard situations and thought-provoking things. While here we were just told that and BAM, the character suddenly changed. After a few chapters and when you’re convinced that the 2 girls are the same now, another character shows you they are not. You can’t judge by yourself because once again, you are told not shown.

🌟 And the use of Arabic words was refreshing but why was it inconsistent: Why is the Prince called Amir while the princess is not Amira (The female equivalent of Amir), and why did she choose the word Shatranj while the board game they were playing is chess and nothing too fancy! And there are more examples…

🌟 And since I felt I read all of this before I was not thrilled and excited to know what happens next until the last chapters. I didn’t have problems with the world-building but I wish we had a bit more of it.

🌟 So, if you are new to the genre this book is not bad, but if you read a few books of this kind then you may want to skip this book. I ended up giving it 3.25 stars out of 5 stars.

🌟 Prescription: for fans of red rising and those new to the genre!...more

i got this book in owlcrates september box and im so happy because this wasnt even on my radar!

this book was relatively short and so it wasted no time with a slow build up. the story dived straight into the world building which, honestly, was a bit overwhelming. but eventually that overwhelming feeling developed into intrigue. and i felt like this story had a lot going for it - the cultural representation, the sci-fi feel within a fantasy centred story, and the characters.

i really appreciatedi got this book in owlcrates september box and im so happy because this wasnt even on my radar!

this book was relatively short and so it wasted no time with a slow build up. the story dived straight into the world building which, honestly, was a bit overwhelming. but eventually that overwhelming feeling developed into intrigue. and i felt like this story had a lot going for it - the cultural representation, the sci-fi feel within a fantasy centred story, and the characters.

i really appreciated amani. i thought she had such a strong resolve, not breaking to her new and unfortunate circumstances, but showing defiance in her own way. and even though she had this strength, she was also a poet, showing this romantic and tenderhearted side of her. i think thats so important - to show women that they can be soft and strong at the same time.

the reason this wasnt a 5 star read for me, even though i thought it was an entertaining story, was i just couldnt shake the feeling that i had read it before? it kind of felt like nearly every other YA fantasy novel - like, if you had told me ‘enter any other YA authors name here’ wrote this, i would believe you. and im not saying this is necessarily bad, because obviously i enjoyed the book, but it was definitely noticeable.

overall, i thought this was an impressive debut and a promising start to what i hope will be a wonderful and lush series!

This is such a lush sci-fi with an AWESOME premise! Body-doubles and rich backstabby courts and rebellions and the actual most intricately detailed culture and world! (Although lowkey thought it was fantasy?! I think the non-galaxy-starry cover threw me haha.) It's also really important and special to see #ownvoices sci-fi featuring POC characters and culture.

I'm sad there were things that didn't work for me regarding plot logic/writing style...but I still think it's a beautiful book and will aThis is such a lush sci-fi with an AWESOME premise! Body-doubles and rich backstabby courts and rebellions and the actual most intricately detailed culture and world! (Although lowkey thought it was fantasy?! I think the non-galaxy-starry cover threw me haha.) It's also really important and special to see #ownvoices sci-fi featuring POC characters and culture.

I'm sad there were things that didn't work for me regarding plot logic/writing style...but I still think it's a beautiful book and will appeal to many readers....more

i really liked the pacing and the plot and the writing style and how the author seamlessly managed to incorporate her moroccan culture into sci-fi fiction, it's official y'all, shes an actual queen

i adored the art representing the cities/places they were traveling, honestly that was the highlight of the book

the characters were interesting, well developed, and i see so much more growth happening in the coming books im HYPED

maram's character inTHIS WAS REALLY GOOD YOU GUYS IM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW

i really liked the pacing and the plot and the writing style and how the author seamlessly managed to incorporate her moroccan culture into sci-fi fiction, it's official y'all, shes an actual queen

i adored the art representing the cities/places they were traveling, honestly that was the highlight of the book

the characters were interesting, well developed, and i see so much more growth happening in the coming books im HYPED

maram's character in particular was developed flawlessly, she was multi-dimensional and had a depth to her that most villains dont even get a fraction of

the only drawback for me was the romance. i found it very insta-lovey and even though i dont necessarily detest insta-love like other tropes (cough cough love triangles) i felt like it was REALLY present in the book

aside from that, im legit excited to see the next books in this series and i want the author to have so much success 😭😭

also the arabic phrases and poetry and words just, my heart y'all its smiling rn :")

You know when you need a book in your life, but you didn't realise what that was until you read it? Well for me, this was Mirage. I got an ARC from Netgalley and then two copies in subscription boxes, so I'm going to say it was a sign that I had to read it.

I'm quite surprised at myself, now I can be honest here and say Sci-Fi isn't usually for me, I'm normally very skeptical and it takes me a while to get into it. For some5 Stars!

You do not kneel or bend, I told myself. To anyone. You continue.

You know when you need a book in your life, but you didn't realise what that was until you read it? Well for me, this was Mirage. I got an ARC from Netgalley and then two copies in subscription boxes, so I'm going to say it was a sign that I had to read it.

I'm quite surprised at myself, now I can be honest here and say Sci-Fi isn't usually for me, I'm normally very skeptical and it takes me a while to get into it. For some reason or another I was so engrossed with this. The setting, a sense of moons, stars and planets and then learning about different cultures throughout I was just here for it.

What I loved so much about this book is that there were a lot of underlying features in this that address some very real topics. We look at a lot here; culture, belief, religion, how others are treated in response to certain politics/ruling.

The basis of this is that Amani is kidnapped on an important night in her life and is taken to Princess Maram, she doesn't know why she is there, but all becomes apparent when she see's her for the first time, they are identical and because of that she will be her body double.

Characters

Amani is such a wonderful character, we see her go through some very troubling times but she holds on to her beliefs and is so strong. I loved her letting others know things they wouldn't know (In relation mainly to Idris and Maram to do with family), her love of poetry relating back to her family and just how quick she picks up things.

Maram is cold and cruel when we first meet her, it's difficult to go into things so I don't give anything away, but when we see her more vulnerable side it was EVERYTHING. I loved seeing the walls come down, and I also kind of felt sorry for her because there's a lot more to her than what I initially thought.

What I liked?- The marking ceremony and how much it meant to Amani, it was so compelling to read and you could fully feel how proud it made her feel.- As previously mentioned, not much a fan of Sci-Fi... but I kind of low key loved the use of Droids- The descriptions and the writing it was just so beautiful. Everything was just so detailed and picturesque. One thing that I love when I read is that you can clearly imagine things in a certain way, and with this it felt as if you were there looking down on everything.- Two different relationships, I loved the closeness of both of these, you could sense a bond coming and I'm very very scared for what's to come.- Shatranji and the subtle uses of strategy while playing- POETRY

What I didn't like?- Lets leave this blank, because I liked itttt

"you are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful. You lived before them and you shall live after them. You can’t let them determine your path.”

Overall, a very unexpected read that I enjoyed so much, I'd reccommend this to anyone and everyone, I can't wait for the next one... in need...more

About: Mirage is a young adult fantasy written by Somaiya Daud. It will be published on 8/28/18 by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, 320 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, and science fiction. This book is the author’s debut and is intended for readers ages 13 to 18.

My Experience: I started reading Mirage on 4/6/18 and finished it on 4/14/18. This book is an excellent read! I love that there’s a village on the moon. The body double is interesting to read, especially wAbout: Mirage is a young adult fantasy written by Somaiya Daud. It will be published on 8/28/18 by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, 320 pages. The genres are young adult, fantasy, and science fiction. This book is the author’s debut and is intended for readers ages 13 to 18.

My Experience: I started reading Mirage on 4/6/18 and finished it on 4/14/18. This book is an excellent read! I love that there’s a village on the moon. The body double is interesting to read, especially when Amani learn her subject mostly by observation. She doesn’t know the inside secrets of what Princess Maram revealed to her fiancé and friends. I like Idris and his cleverness. I like how Amani hold on to her language and culture like a precious stone and Idris regrets forgetting his mother’s tongue. “You can read?” “My mother taught me.” It’s a good reminder to me because as I live in a country I was not born in, I lose the feeling of importance to teach my son the language and culture I was born with because I want him to succeed where he born and lives.

This book is told in the first person point of view following Amani, 18, as she gets ready to attend the majority night celebration to celebrate her and fellow villagers’ coming of age by getting a face tattoo (daan). She lives on a poor forgotten moon in a small village with her parents and two older brothers in a tribe. The party was ambushed by droids and then Amani got taken away against her will leaving her family and all she’s known behind. She soon learns that she will become the body double for the wicked and cruelest Princess Maram, 17. Princess Maram’s life is in danger because she was born 50/50 between good & evil and since they both look alike, Amani is suited for the job. Amani will have to endure many harsh training lessons to eat, talk, and walk like Princess Maram. There are different cultures and languages in this book. Some languages are forbidden and some cultural practices are prohibited. The current King is ruthless and there are rebels that want to overthrow the King and Princess Maram. Amani is put to the test when she begins to journey to faraway places for an extended period of time as Princess Maram, but her challenge takes an unexpected turn where she least expected it.

A well written story, this book introduce an interesting plot and an unfamiliar language/culture to challenge readers. I have to admit that my pronunciation of names and locations in this book sounds as foreign to me as it looks. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to unravel how a village girl saves herself from her face when she no longer has her freedom. I like the forbidden love portion of the book as well as the importance of valuing your own history. I like that Amani know so much of everything even though she lives in a village far away from the city. I like the dispute Princess Maram struggles with, between good and evil and not knowing which direction to follow. The ending is a bit heart breaking as well as hopeful. I look forward to the sequel of this book. I highly recommend everyone to read this debut!

Mirage by Somaiya Daud is the first book of the new young adult romantic science fiction fantasy series by the same name. Eighteen year old Amani is from a poor family living in a village on a remote moon when droids show up scanning everyone they come across.

When the droids scan Amani they find something within her that causes her capture and to be whisked away from her home. The next Amani knows she is meeting Princess Maram and finds she is staring into what is practically her own face. ThatMirage by Somaiya Daud is the first book of the new young adult romantic science fiction fantasy series by the same name. Eighteen year old Amani is from a poor family living in a village on a remote moon when droids show up scanning everyone they come across.

When the droids scan Amani they find something within her that causes her capture and to be whisked away from her home. The next Amani knows she is meeting Princess Maram and finds she is staring into what is practically her own face. That is when Amani knows what her crime was, being a mirror image of the Princess.

Princess Maram is not a kind soul, following in the footsteps of her father she is known to be wicked and cruel and her first meeting with Amani proves to be no different than the rumors have led Amani to believe. Tortured and forced to learn the Princess' every move Amani is forced to become her body double and stand in during events in which the Princess' life will be in danger from assassins.

I finished reading Mirage a couple of days ago and had to give this one some thought as to how I wanted to rate this opener. It's not a bad read by any means but I did have a few issues with this first book. The first being one that happens quite often and that is just being reminded of other books, movies or television, it took awhile to stop thinking of other things and get into this one on it's own.

But the second is not necessarily bad but more my own preference when it comes to fantasy and that is this one is a heavily character driven read. The biggest portion of this opener is Amani and Idris and their goo goo eyes for one another then the next is Amani and Maram and their relationship forming and it seemed anything and everything else was buried within those interactions. Personally I like more action and more use of the scifi world and politics that the story is set in. The end of the book really picked up though which might give an indication of book 2 going a bit faster now that the character building is set. So in the end I decided to go 3.5 stars on this opener and hope for more in the upcoming installment.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. I also received a review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions on Mirage are my own, receiving a copy did not impact this at all.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. I also received a review copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions on Mirage are my own, receiving a copy did not impact this at all.

An important note before I get started, I am not Moroccan nor do I know much about the history and culture of Morocco. A #ownvoices review by Em does though! Make sure to check out her review here. This story is also #ownvoices Moroccan rep, but I felt it important to link a reviewer sharing their story too.

Sometimes you read a book and it just makes you go wow. It changes your life and gives you a new trope to fall in love with. Mirage by Somaiya Daud. This book is truly on a new level, authors need to step up because Somaiya is someone to look out for.

I typically don’t like science fiction. I find the writing clunky sometimes and the technological advancements are always confusing to me. Mirage is the perfect merge of fantasy though. It truly is. At times I forget this book was science fiction because I was so immersed in the world and the characters. I just really need to get across what an incredible book this is. The author is incredibly talented and you won’t waste your time if you pick this up.

Somaiya Daud’s debut novel follows Amani, a dreamer and a village girl. She dreams of an adventure out of her home, an isolated moon. That is until she is kidnapped. She is taken straight to the royal palace, fearing the worse Amani is readying herself for death. However, the life she is about to be given may be worse than death. Meeting Princes Maram, Amani is shocked to learn that the pair of them are identical. It is because of this that Amani is forced into the role of being Maram’s body double. Amani is to appear at public events, ones that are dangerous for Maram or just because she simply doesn’t want to go. Amani is swept into a new world, one filled with expectations she had never had as the daughter of a farmer.

The story features romance, danger, and the glitter of friendship. There is a large political presence throughout the story. Themes of colonisation and internalised hatred for your own culture are highlighted throughout the story. There are truly so many layers to this particular story and there are so many routes for it to take in future books which is amazing.

Mirage is a hauntingly beautiful story. This is the kind of book that stays with you. It lingers in your thoughts and drives you to think. The writing of this book had me captured from the prologue and I did not want to put this book down. If I had had my way I would have finished it in one sitting and been happy.

I’m just going to air this out early so then I can gush about this book some more. I didn’t enjoy the romance of this book. It really doesn’t feel like it plays that large of a part in the book but at the beginning, I wasn’t feeling it. It truly feels rushed, which makes sense because it’s life or death for both of them, but I would have liked more interactions and build up between the characters. It would have really cemented the chemistry between the characters initially. As the story goes along there is definitely chemistry built, but that first kiss really threw me off for a while.

My favourite part of this book was definitely Maram. I don’t think we see her enough throughout this book, we probably do but I wanted more. Maram is straight up a villain in this story and the joy I felt at not seeing her redeemed through the story? Oh yeah boy, I’m here for it. I love female characters who are shamelessly going to kill someone. The power that Maram has is definitely not used for the good of her people, much like her father. Hell, Maram doesn’t care about her people. She truly just wants the crown and doesn’t give a shit who she has step on to get it.

Not only that, but the friendship that forms between Maram and Amani is excellent. One girl is controlling the others life but the pair organically start to become friends throughout the story. It was a really interesting factor to see, and not one I was expecting. I was prepared for more insults and arguments, or at least Amani plotting Maram’s death in her mind. That is not at all what happens. It is probably due to the caring nature of Amani but, seriously, wow this author is beyond talented in her work.

Straight up though, the body double trope is now my favourite trope. I have never read a story where a character is filling in for another. Whether that be by force or choice. It was just so damn interesting to see how it came together with this story. I would have liked a bit more violence in some parts because at some points it did feel as if it was all a bit easy for Amani. However, I still loved it. From the point that she arrives, she is forced to be Maram and the reasons why were fascinating. I couldn’t put this book down and I know it’s because of this new trope.

Overall, Mirage is a story everyone needs to read. It doesn’t matter if you don’t enjoy science fiction like me. It doesn’t matter if you simply don’t want to (seriously, why?). You need to pick up this story once it releases because it is worth every second you spend reading it. The author has a talent for creating a complex and layered story that truly enchants you. You will not be able to return to normal day to day life without having Mirage in the back of your mind. A spectacular debut, I can’t wait to see what else this author does....more

"You are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful."

Mirage was definitely not what I was expecting--but not in a bad way! I was looking forward to reading a high-stakes survival story with lots of action and rebellion (I was totally imagining a fantasy version of The Hunger Games), but it was more along the lines of The Wrath and the Dawn with its slower pacing and intense focus on the romance.

"You are not defined by the men in your life, no matter how powerful."

Mirage was definitely not what I was expecting--but not in a bad way! I was looking forward to reading a high-stakes survival story with lots of action and rebellion (I was totally imagining a fantasy version of The Hunger Games), but it was more along the lines of The Wrath and the Dawn with its slower pacing and intense focus on the romance.

Again, this is not necessarily a bad thing (!!!). The slow paved the way for some fantastic, in-depth character development. Amani, our fierce heroine, is an indigenous woman who's kidnapped and forced to work as the princess's body double. She starts off scared and wary, but eventually turns into an empowered woman who wants to save her people and preserve her culture.

Then we have the actual princess, Maram, who is even more intriguing. She's technically the villain, but she has an incredibly interesting backstory that will make you want to understand her more. She's mean and selfish, but for a reason; she's not one of the villains who are bad just for the sake of having a villain to hate.

This book does also have a romance, although one that is very much unnecessary. It's between Amani and Idris, who is Maram's betrothed. It's very sweet and soft, but I personally hoped for a more exciting romance between Amani and Maram. Idris just seemed a little flat for me, and I couldn't bring myself to really care for his character, no matter how kind and charming he was.

Mirage doesn't really have a lot going on, so if you're an action-seeker like me, this aspect may disappoint you. BUT! This book wins at world-building! Daud's writing is so elegant and intricate, and it definitely makes for an amazing and luscious world. Of course, this also led me to be occasionally confused by the backstories and politics, but that just be my fish brain going haywire again.

In short, I'd recommend Mirage for people looking for a strong heroine who they can look up to, a villain with actual depth, seductive world-building, and a very feminist story. If you're okay with a slower book and not a lot of action, be sure to give this book a try!

This was another just okay read for me. I wasn’t a fan of some of the scifi elements, maybe that type of stuff just isn’t my thing. I did really like Amani and her poetry fetish. Although the writing was excellent and the romance was nice, I just wasn’t fist pumping over this one.

I just arrived back home after a long trip and I have the feeling that I have already forgotten how to write a decent review, so please don’t hate me if this review ends up being a mess. (I have only one free week left before college starts and I’m not feeling ready enough).................................................................................................Mirage is one of those books that since the first time you heaI received ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Full review posted

I just arrived back home after a long trip and I have the feeling that I have already forgotten how to write a decent review, so please don’t hate me if this review ends up being a mess. (I have only one free week left before college starts and I’m not feeling ready enough).................................................................................................Mirage is one of those books that since the first time you heard of it, you are almost a 100% sure you will enjoy it. Fortunately, I will talk about exactly about the amazing journey that it was having the chance to read this book.

The book follows the story of Amani, a girl who lives in a galactic system under the rule of the Vathek empire, an empire famous for its ruthlessness and brutality. This eighteen-year-old girl has always dreamed of a world in which everyone is again free and able to live and experience their culture through art, especially poetry. However, everything is taken away from her the day she is kidnapped by the empire and taken away from her family with not apparently explanation. It is until she is taken to the royal palace when she discovers she has been kidnapped to be used as a replacement for the half-Vathek princess Maram. What she never expected, was to look the same as the princess.

Despite the punishments and the insufferable pain induced by Maram as an attempt “mend” her, Amani is convinced that good things will come from this and fights against it in the hope to see her family once again. What she doesn’t know is that this will be the beginning of a destiny long ago written, of an impossible love and of learning to let things go by their own way.

🍂Worldbuilding:

This is without any doubt the thing I love the most about this book. As far as I know, and I could inform me, this is a Moroccan inspired story, set in a not so distant events that actually happened in Morocco around the 1960s (when I read something I’m not familiarized with, I had to do my own research and that is something I absolutely love in books).

Everything is so well described and the historical parts match perfectly with the sci-fi style the author created into this book, that it feels you are actually experiencing and intergalactic historical adventure. Full of myths, subtle magic, fantasy, culture and advanced technology.

If you read this book (which you should do), I truly recommend you enrich your knowledge by reading some information about Moroccan history and culture. It will make the experience even better.

🍂Writing style:

It is almost as good as its worldbuilding.

With such amazing narrative, Somaya Daud has created an unforgettable, compelling and magical book. She has weaved the exact amount of anxiety, intrigue, and heroism to create the perfect story. Each emotion thought and action is so well described that it becomes impossible not to get immersed in each character’s life.

Despite the above mentioned, do not expect it to be a fast-paced book. Daud takes her time to create each scenario that sometimes you may even lose the interest, but do not worry, it’d be worth your time and patience at the end.

🍂Characters:

The weakest aspect of the book.

The book goes mainly around 3 characters, and that’s the only thing we get to see and know. (Of course, there are some others, but for me, they were partially mentioned, so they don’t truly count). Such a rich story and world, lacking more character development, I don’t know, I think we have a problem right here, honey.

🍃Maram: she is without any doubt my favorite character. I did like how the author created such an amazing changing personality in her, how she made her look and feel like something real and palpable, something truly human. In her, you will be able to find a great evil and a cute girl, but it will be only throughout the reading, that you will learn more about who she truly is and the course of all her actions.

🍃Amani: she is a very good and well-developed female character. I feel honored and happy to finally have the chance to read a book with a strong female character who decisions are not only based on pride and pretense but on reason and common sense. It was quite a journey to see how much she grows and how her passion never dies. The hope of finding her purpose gives birth to a new personality in her that makes her become a memorable character with a memorable story. I only wish she hadn’t fallen prey to the wretchedness of love.

🍃Idris: not my cup of tea. Like seriously, there hadn’t been a more boring and useless character in the story of YA novels.If he hadn’t existed there wouldn’t have been a typical love interest and maybe, just maybe, there would have been something beautiful and amazing between Amani and Maram (I actually thought the author was going that way). I didn’t get to know him pretty well; his personality was merely sketched and not well established. I do hope I get to know more about him in the next book. That’s where my concern with the author resides; maybe Daud focused too much into the worldbuilding that she forgot to pay attention to the second most important part of a book and what gives it its essence.

Overall, despite my not so great experience with the characters in the book, I truly recommend you to read this book and I you are completely allowed to hit me if you don’t like it. (Of course, I’d like to know first why you didn’t like it)....more

Mirage resonated with me, a child of Chinese immigrants, in ways I didn't expect.

I'll admit that the action was lacking and the pacing languorously slow. And yet, the storytelling was no less beautiful. Interestingly enough, the core theme of Mirage was cultural assimilation—it was the main thread pulling the plot together, a thread that also wove itself into the fabric of the characters.

The characters were wonderfully nuanced. Surprisingly, I empathised with Idris, who struggled with the loss oMirage resonated with me, a child of Chinese immigrants, in ways I didn't expect.

I'll admit that the action was lacking and the pacing languorously slow. And yet, the storytelling was no less beautiful. Interestingly enough, the core theme of Mirage was cultural assimilation—it was the main thread pulling the plot together, a thread that also wove itself into the fabric of the characters.

The characters were wonderfully nuanced. Surprisingly, I empathised with Idris, who struggled with the loss of his heritage language, who was forced to shed his culture and embrace another. I also adored the burgeoning relationship between the lead and the antagonist, Amani and Maram—two individuals who ended up opening their hearts to one another.I admired how the story didn't vilify Maram and how her character was beautifully imbued with layers, her cruel exterior hiding a girl who simply desired to belong somewhere. Who, because of her biracial identity, was always an outsider, and never "authentic" enough for either.The motif of language manifests itself throughout the story: through Amani's poetry, which she clung too in times of loneliness and despair; through the ceremonial practice of daan, tattoos inked onto skin as symbols of family and inheritance, as physical projections of hopes and dreams.Because language isn't just a tool for communication—it's a bridge that connects and touches the feelings of people. Something that creates belonging and nurtures love.

Being a second-generation child, I know the struggle of being trapped between two cultures. So it was no wonder that Daud's treatment of cultural identity in Mirage was something that powerfully resonated with me:Amani, who was separated from her roots. Maram, who was neither one nor the other. Idris, who was missing a part of himself.

Growing up in Australia, I was always striving to distance myself from my roots, always forsaking my Chinese heritage, because I wanted to be as "Australian" as possible. But it wasn't later that I realised that, in doing so, I was forsaking a part of myself—something that was rich, beautiful and inherent to my identity. The story that Daud has created is so human, a story of faith, belonging and passion. Of growth and renewal, of connecting to people, and of discovering your identity.

I did enjoy the overall setting and some of the characters were mildly interesting, but every. Single. Scene. Felt so insignificant and useless, and if there was a somewhat exciting one, it was quickly skipped over just to resume the talking about tiles. I don't think I've ever read a book that talked about tiles more than this one.

And the climax? Massively underwhelming. I would have dnf'd this countless times had I not held onto theOne of the most ridiculously tedious books I have ever read.

I did enjoy the overall setting and some of the characters were mildly interesting, but every. Single. Scene. Felt so insignificant and useless, and if there was a somewhat exciting one, it was quickly skipped over just to resume the talking about tiles. I don't think I've ever read a book that talked about tiles more than this one.

And the climax? Massively underwhelming. I would have dnf'd this countless times had I not held onto the hope that MAYBE the finale would change my mind, but it made me dislike everything even more. It seriously made me feel like I had just stared at a wall for the past three months.

So I'm glad that so many people seem to be enjoying this, and that the author got to extend the series from two to three books (which seems to be the current trend), but I don't think I'll remember any of it in about four days. * * *

Time to beat the slump alongside the Light of my Reading LifeLily....more

I've given this some thought and while I enjoyed this book, I didn't really love or really like it, so 3 stars it is. Daud's lyrical writing is beautiful, but the plot was a bit lacking in this one.

This very much reminded me of if Queen Amildala's body double in Star Wars Episode 1 had a body double. It's almost like the author watched that movie and decided to give her a story but with much better characters and world building.

I'm glad I read it but wouldn't read any future books in 3 stars

I've given this some thought and while I enjoyed this book, I didn't really love or really like it, so 3 stars it is. Daud's lyrical writing is beautiful, but the plot was a bit lacking in this one.

This very much reminded me of if Queen Amildala's body double in Star Wars Episode 1 had a body double. It's almost like the author watched that movie and decided to give her a story but with much better characters and world building.

I'm glad I read it but wouldn't read any future books in the series. I think Daud will grow as an author in the future and I may read other books by her not connected to this series.

Somaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master’s degree she doubled as a bookseller at PoliSomaiya Daud was born in a Midwestern city, and spent a large part of her childhood and adolescence moving around. Like most writers, she started when she was young and never really stopped. Her love of all things books propelled her to get a degree in English literature (specializing in the medieval and early modern), and while she worked on her Master’s degree she doubled as a bookseller at Politics and Prose in their children’s department. Determined to remain in school for as long as possible, she packed her bags in 2014 and moved the west coast to pursue a doctoral degree in English literature. Now she’s preparing to write a dissertation on Victorians, rocks, race, and the environment. Mirage is her debut, and is due from Flatiron Books in 8/28/2018....more